Puzzle.



J. E. BLALOCK.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. i915.

Patented June 20, 1916.

moento'r, J. E l5 LALOC K rr ne air r to

PUZZLE.

Application filed. November 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSTICE E. BLALooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to puzzles and more particularly to that general class known as wire puzzles, the present invention having for its primary object to produce a puzzle of this character, consisting of two primary elements, the object being to connect and disconnect said elements.

It is also the aim of my invention to so construct the two wire elements that a puzzle of more than ordinary difficulty to V solve will be produced.

My invention has for an additional object to provide a wire puzzle which may be very cheaply manufactured and sold, and the parts of which may be rapidly manipulated.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the two parts of the puzzle separated; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the first step to be performed in connecting the two parts of the puzzle; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the relative positions of the parts at another point in connecting the same together; and Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing the final operation in the connection of the two parts.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 and 6 indicate generally the two wire parts of the puzzle, each of these parts being formed out of one continuous length of wire of proper gage, preferably such as is commonly employed in the baling of hay or fodder.

The wire from which the part 5 is constructed ,is bent to provide an elongated loop in its intermediate portion, and from one of the arms 7 of this loop; the wire is bent to form a laterally projecting, closed, rectangular, relatively small loop 8, the wire at one corner of the loop being coiled or bent around the arm 7, as indicated at 9.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1916.

Serial No. 60,314.

One extremity of the wire at the end of the other arm 10 of the main body loop is bent to also produce a small rectangular, closed loop 11 therein which, however, is disposed in a plane at right angles to the loop 8 of the wire arm 7 From. the coil 9 the wire is extended across or between the arms 7 and 10, as shown at 12, and through the loop 11. The opposite sides of this loop 11 are connected intermediate of their ends by a single wire 13. The other end portion of the wire projecting through the loop 11, is bent and returned in substantially a semicircle, as shown at 14;, and projects inwardly through the loop 11 upon the opposite side of the wire 13 with respect to the wire portion 12. The terminal of the wire is then bent outwardly from the bend 14 therein, as shown at 15, and projects beyond the end of the loop 11.

The other part 6 of the puzzle is constructed from a length of wire which is bent to provide a substantially rectangular frame, indicated at 16, the terminals of the wlre being connected together at onecorner of this frame, as at 17. From one end of said wire frame, the wire is extended inwardly at the center thereof, the parallel strands of wire being bent upon themselves to form a long outwardly extending hook bill 18 in the wire. At the opposite end of the frame 16, centrally thereof, the wire is extended outwardly and the strands thereof bent upon themselves to produce the relatively short, inwardly projecting hook bill 19 therein. The two parts being construct ed in the manner described, I will now proceed to disclose how said parts are to be .connected to each other or disconnected in solving the puzzle.

The closed loop 8 in the wire member 5 serves as a hand hold, and grasping this loop between the thumb and fore-finger of the right hand, with the left hand the member 6 is lifted by the hook 19, and the other hook 18 is engaged upon the portion 12 of the member 5. This hook bill 18 is then moved outwardly through the rectangular loop 11 to the position shown in Fig. :2 of the drawing. The hook 19 of the member 6 is then swung downwardly so that said member will be disposed at an angle and the point of the hook bill 18 is forced over the wire 13 bisecting the loop 11 and ingage the curved extremity 15 thereof sothat the parts will then be in substantially the positions shown in Fig. 3. The member 6 is then forced outwardly in a lateral direction from the extremity 15 of the bend 14: in the other wire member 5 and then downwardly with respect to the member 5 until the frame of the member 6 rests upon the innerend of the loop 11. The member 5 is then raised to a substantially horizontal position and the hook bill 18 moved in.-

wardly'throughthe loop'll, as indicated in V Fig. 4;, so that said frame will then be interlocked or connected with the elongated body of the member 5. In disconnecting the parts, it will be understood that the reverse of this operation is performed. Anyone familiar with the solution of the puzzle may very quickly and deftly connect or disconnect the parts thereof in the presence of observers without the latter being able to follow the several operationsso that they could at once solve the puzzle. 7 c

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the several structural features of my improved puzzle, as well as the manner or mode of operating the same, will be clearly and fully understood.

The device afiords a would-be solver pleasureand amusement, as well as causing him to exercise considerable ingenuity and patience.v The hook 19 and the loop 8 are provided mainly for the purpose of misleading the operator, the latter part also serving the additional and useful purpose of a handle whereby the member 5 may be conveniently held and manipulated.

It will be manifest that, as the device is entirely constructed of wire which may be obtained in large quantities at relatively small cost, the device can be manufactured and sold at a low price. The wire of which the parts of the puzzle are formed, may be nickel platedif desired. The two parts of the puzzle can also be constructed in various sizes and it will further be apparent that the body loop or frame of each part can be constructed in' various'ornamental shapes without interfering with the proper operation of the device.

Vhile I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several structural features of my improved puzzle, it is to be understood that a the device is susceptible of considerable modification and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 7 I

Having thus fully described my invention,

of the wire closing the open end of said U- shaped body and extending through said loop and havinga plurality of bends formed therein, and a second member consisting of a closed rectangular wire frame having a hook bill formed inone of its end portions adapted to bemanipulated upon the bends in the terminal of the other wire member and through the loop therein whereby the two members are connected or disconnected substantially in the manner specified.

2.;A puzzle of the character described including a part constructed from a length 'of wire having an elongated substantially 'U-shaped body and a closed loop formed on one terminal of said Wire, a wire connecting the opposite sides of the loop intermediate of "the ends thereof, the other end portion of the wire closing the open end of said U-shaped body and extendingthrough said loop and having a plurality of bends formed therein, and a second member consisting of a closed rectangular Wire frame having a hook bill formed in one of its end portions adapted'to be manipulated upon the bends in the terminal of the other :wire member and throughthe loop therein whereby the two members are connected or disconnected substantially in the manner specified.

3. A puzzle of the character described including apart constructed of a length of wire having an elongated substantially U- one terminal of said wire, the other end portion of the wire closing the open end of said U-shaped body and extending through said loop and having a plurality of bends shaped body and a closed loop formed on formed therein, said terminal bends of the wire at the juncture thereof projecting inwardly through said closed loop upon'one side of said connecting Wire, and a second member consisting of a closed rectangular wire frame having a hook bill formed in one of itsend portions adapted to be manipulated upon the bends in the terminal of the other wire member and through the loop therein wherebythe two members are connected or disconnected substantially in the manner specified.

4. A wire puzzle consisting of two'primary parts 5 and 6respectively, the part 5 having a U-shaped body providing arms 7 and 10 and a portion 12 in the wire extend ing between the said arms and closing the open end of said body, one terminal of said wire having a closed loop 11 therein and the other terminal of the Wire vextending bends 14 and 15 in the first Wire part and for manipulation through the terminalloop 11 thereof to connect or disconnect said parts substantially in the manner specified. 15

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JUSTICE EARL BLALOCK.

Witnesses:

ROY C. LEE, R. R. VAUGHAN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner at Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

